Spatial Memory Training and Cognitive Function
ConditionMild Cognitive Impairment
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age55+
SponsorDouglas Mental Health University Institute
About this trial
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is often considered a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients with MCI have subjective memory complaints corroborated by standard neuropsychological tests but remain functionally autonomous. One of the first brain regions to show AD pathology is the hippocampus (HPC). Reduction in HPC volume is a strong predictor of AD dementia. Therefore, improvement or restoration of HPC structure and function is thus an attractive target for improvement in memory and AD prevention strategies. In the current study, the investigators propose to examine the effects of a 3-month long spatial memory program on spatial memory and the hippocampus in patients diagnosed with MCI. Neuropsychological tests are also administered before and after the training to assess the effects of the intervention on cognition. In our previous research, the investigators have shown that spatial memory intervention program (SMIP) improves cognition and hippocampal based spatial memory compared to controls.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Age 55 years and above.
Primary language is English or French.
Individuals having received a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Disqualifiers
Current medications for sleep problems, or use of medications that affect sleep.
Use of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication for less than 3 months prior to study entry.
Use of analgesics with codeine (or other opioids).
Use of antipsychotic medication (past or current).
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
SMIP
BehavioralParticipants will undergo a 3-month-long regimen of 60 minutes spatial memory training sessions held twice a week, consisting of a series of computerized virtual reality tasks.
No intervention
Other interventionControl participants will not receive spatial memory intervention training. They will watch documentaries and then complete multiple choice quizzes on its content to ensure they are paying attention. The placebo condition will match the experimental condition in terms of duration and visit frequency.
Treatment groups
80 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: SMIPExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: ControlPlacebo comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in hippocampal atrophy score using SNIPE (Scoring by Non-local Image Patch Estimator)
Hippocampal atrophy will be assessed by applying the SNIPE algorithm to T1-weighted structural MRI scans. The SNIPE score quantifies similarity of hippocampal image patches to those found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and cognitively healthy controls, providing a continuous score ranging from -1 (AD-like) to +1 (control-like). Change in SNIPE score from baseline to post-treatment will be used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on neurodegeneration.
Time frame
From study entry to Week 16 in hippocampus SNIPE grading.Secondary outcomes
1
Hippocampal volume.
Changes in hippocampal volume as determined by structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Time frame
From study entry to weeks 16 and 41.2
Change in hippocampal atrophy score using SNIPE (Scoring by Non-local Image Patch Estimator) at 41 weeks post-study entry.
Hippocampal atrophy will be assessed by applying the SNIPE algorithm to T1-weighted structural MRI scans. The SNIPE score quantifies similarity of hippocampal image patches to those found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and cognitively healthy controls, providing a continuous score ranging from -1 (AD-like) to +1 (control-like). Change in SNIPE score from baseline to post-treatment will be used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on neurodegeneration.
Time frame
From study entry to Week 41.3
Changes in spatial memory performance.
Changes in spatial memory performance will be assessed according to the Functional Spatial Abilities Questionnaire (FSAQ), a 12-item self-report tool developed to assess spatial orientation and navigation abilities. Respondents rate their difficulty for a series of tasks. The total score, ranging from 12 to 36, is calculated by summing the individual item scores, with higher total scores indicating greater impairment in functional spatial abilities.
Time frame
From study entry to weeks 15 and 40.4
Changes in spatial memory performance: radial maze task.
The 4-on-8 virtual maze is a computerized task which will be used to investigate spontaneous strategies used by participants. Participants have to find 4 hidden objects in an 8-arm radial-maze. Performance is measured in terms of errors committed.
Time frame
From study entry to weeks 15 and 40.Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Lead sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov